Vermont
2024's Towns In Vermont That Come Alive In The Fall
As the home of 55 state parks, over 100 covered bridges, and some of the most vivid fall foliage in the country, it is easy to see why the New England state of Vermont is one of the most sought-after places to visit in autumn. And despite the fact that we are already several weeks deep into the season, there is still plenty of time to savor the sights, with many Vermont towns reserving their brightest leaves for the second and third weeks of October.
As these towns shed their usual greenery in place of crimson and gold, a warm glow is cast across Vermont’s hilltops, river shores, and mountainsides. Add in pumpkin patches, hayrides, and festive events celebrating the season, and you have the perfect recipe for experiencing a New England fall at its finest in 2024.
Stowe
Named one of 2024’s “Top 10 Best Places to See Fall Colors in the United States” by USA Today, Stowe embodies everything we know and love about a classic New England fall. Overlooked by Mount Mansfield (Vermont’s highest peak), this northern Vermont town of just over 5,000 locals welcomes a massive amount of the 13 million who visit Vermont each year. With summer and winter being the busiest seasons, fall in Stowe offers the perfect blend of tranquility and stunning views. Seasonal colors arrive as early as the beginning of September and, in some areas, last well into October, depending on the elevation.
If you are looking for Stowe’s vibrant hues earlier in the season, your best bet is to embark on higher hikes like the Stowe Pinnacle Trail, which grants breathtaking panoramic views of the valley and surrounding mountains. For a more easygoing foliage hike, Stowe’s 75-acre Kirchner Woods features flatter paths with stunning yellow and red sugar maples.
But for the ultimate leisurely leaf-peeping experience, you may just want to take to the sky. The town has several attractions that allow a bird’s-eye view of the foliage, including the Stowe Mountain Resort’s Gondola SkyRide, a forest zipline with ArborTrek Canopy Adventures, or Air Stowe Helicopter Tours. Just make sure to be back on land by October 11 to celebrate the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival, which will feature over 150 artists and artisans, live entertainment, and tons of delicious festival foods.
Burke
Although the picturesque mountain town of Burke has already seen its famed Fall Festival pass in late September, there is still plenty of autumnal bliss to savor in fall. As part of Vemront’s Northeast Kingdom, the town’s surrounding forests and alpine atmosphere means foliage begins to transform around mid-September, reaching peak vibrancy in early to mid-October. This period offers the perfect opportunity to witness the brilliant gold, red, and orange leaves in Darling State Park, which features stunning vistas on paths like the 1.3-mile Burke Mountain Overlook trail.
Beyond exploring the seasonal bliss by foot, Burke is also famous for its Kingdom Trail network, which boasts over 100 miles of biking paths. Whether you choose to rent a bike from Burke’s Village Sport Shop or bring your own, cycling these scenic forest trails is a fantastic way to soak in the beauty of the season. Alternatively, for a more unique experience, consider Burke’s DND Stables Guided Trail Rides, which offer leisurely horseback adventures suitable for riders of all skill levels, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the stunning autumn landscape.
Waitsfield
Over in the heart of the Mad River Valley, Waitsfield is a cozy town promising dramatic sights and spirited experiences in the fall. The valley, centrally located in Vermont, offers a striking contrast of Green Mountain summits and Mad River lowlands, combined with a tapestry of fiery autumn hues and crisp alpine airs. During your time in Waitsfield, you can expect peak-foliage in early to mid-October, but like Stowe, it will also depend on elevation.
For an immersive experience, adventurous travelers may want to take a Guided Fall Foliage Tours with downtown Waitsfield’s Clearwater Sports. While many people associate paddling with summer, the tree-dotted riverbanks reflect vibrant fall colors into the water, creating a truly special effect. With wildlife actively packing on the pounds for hibernation, you are also more likely to spot animals like the American black bear.
Another fantastic way to enjoy the fall scenery is through the Foliage Lift Rides at Mad River Glen. This ski area hosts its Foliage Weekend event on October, providing round trips to the summit for breathtaking views of the valley’s foliage. If you would like to linger a bit longer to take in the sights and snap some photos, you can step off the lift for a leisurely hike down the scenic 2.5-mile Stark Mountain Trail. On October 12, the Stark Mountain Foundation will also organize a Family-Friendly Nature Hike, guiding families from this trail to Waitsfield’s Kent Thomas Nature Center.
Manchester
Traveling to southern Vermont, Manchester is the perfect town for those craving spectacular views without the hike. Sandwiched between the Green and Taconic Mountains, picturesque backdrops are a constant in Manchester, with Mount Equinox towering above the skyline at 3,850 feet. With the addition of the Battenkill River encircling the town, postcard views are as natural as breathing.
For a jaw-dropping “Drive to the Sky,” visitors can take historic Route 7A (located between Manchester and Arlington) for a trip up the Mount Equinox Skyline Drive. As the longest privately owned paved toll road in the United States, the road’s 3,248-foot, 5.2-mile ascent to the top of Mount Equinox is stunning year-round. But mid-September through October is when the trees replace their usual green with a stunning tapestry of yellows, oranges, and reds, making this one of the most sought-after times to take the scenic drive.
Manchester is also an excellent destination for those with young kids, since the town hosts a great range of family-friendly activities. Fall Foliage Wagon Rides at Hildene Farm are a great follow-up to tours of the Lincoln Family Home. Alternatively, the Equinox Valley Nursery Pumpkin Patch also hosts a mountain-view wagon ride, along with a corn maze and an annual pumpkin carving festival (date to be determined).
Woodstock
While certain Vermont towns are at their most crowded in the summertime, Woodstock’s busy season is from September to October, when the leaves are at their brightest. The best entry to this quintessential New England town is via the Crossroad of the Vermont Scenic Byway, whose sparkling landscapes will set the mood for your stay. Woodstock is also bordered by the beautiful Ottauquechee River, making the town’s scenes that much prettier.
The 3-mile Ottauquechee River Trail is one of the best ways to take in the town’s autumnal sights, or you can opt for a more vertical path up Mount Tom for a bird’s-eye view of the village. Quechee State Park is also a short drive from Woodstock, known for its Quechee Gorge Trail. As for those looking for a more easygoing foliage hike, Woodstock has several rural areas worth exploring, like Sugarbush Farm and Bourdon Maple Farm. In the autumn months, Bourdon offers free sugar house tours, maple samples, and self-guided hikes through the farm’s vibrant Maple Trail.
East Corinth
For Halloween fanatics looking for a laid-back day trip this October, East Corinth boasts a ton of whimsy without the Woodstock crowds. Despite often being overlooked, the town’s main claim to fame is its reputation as a Beetlejuice Filming Location since the 1988 film’s outdoor scenes were shot throughout East Corinth, including the iconic bridge scene. To this day, the town exudes a gothic charm reminiscent of the film, showcased in 19th-century buildings like the East Corinth Congregational Church, which was built in 1840.
Leaf-peepers will also find themselves mesmerized by the stunning hillsides in this rural town. This year’s Corinth Fall Festival is set to line up with the region’s peak foliage season when the hills will come to life with dazzling shades of red and gold. The festival promises tractor rides, face painting, food, and artisan vendors.
Burlington
Despite being Vermont’s largest town, Burlington has that cozy small-town feel New England is famous for. As local oaks and maples take on their fall colors (generally reaching their crescendo in the first couple weeks of October), the town’s parks and green spaces feel warmer and cozier than ever. Oakledge Park is a great choice for views of Lake Champlain, or you can head to the heart of Burlington to explore The Intervale Center. This 360-acre nonprofit boasts everything from organic farms to recreational paths like the Intervale Trail, which winds through farmland and wooded paths along the Winooski River.
As for seasonal festivities, for those looking to get into the Halloween spirit, this historic Vermont town is also famous for its award-winning haunted town tour. The Queen City Ghostwalk, “Vermont’s Original Ghost Tour,” was awarded the 2024 “Best Guided Outdoor Tour” by Seven Daysies and has been voted one of New England’s best-haunted walks by magazines like Yankee and AAA. Alternatively, for those craving treats instead of tricks, Burlington’s Choctober Fest is a fun event taking place every Saturday in October, promising free chocolate tastings with seasonal maple, cider, and pumpkin flavors.
Grafton
With “Peak New England Vibes” and less than 700 locals, the sleepy and underrated village of Grafton is an ideal getaway spot for those craving a quieter experience this fall. Like other southern Vermont towns, Grafton sees its brightest foliage toward the beginning of October, so this is the best time to visit. And thanks to the town’s alpine atmosphere, crisp mountain air will accompany your views every step of the way.
For a scenic autumn drive (and a charming photo), Grafton’s Kidder Covered Bridge is an adorable little landmark that takes you across the South Branch Saxtons River. But to explore Grafton’s scene on foot, you will want to head to the Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center. Spread over 2,000 acres of land, the area boasts everything from rolling hills to vibrant woodlands where visitors can hike, mountain bike, leaf-peep, and even book a stay at the adjacent Grafton Inn hotel.
As a follow-up, the Nature Museum at Grafton is a great way to learn more about the area’s stunning outdoors and wildlife. As for those who would prefer to experience more of Grafton’s rural atmosphere, the Plummer’s Sugar House is a great next stop. Their free farm tours are a delight in the fall, plus they sell countless maple syrup goodies for those with a sweet tooth.
Final Thoughts
Summertime may be Vermont’s busiest tourist period (welcoming 5 million people every season), but autumn is when the Green Mountain State truly lives up to its New England image. Whether visiting towns like Woodstock (which has become world-famous for its classic autumn scenes) or sleepier rural towns like Grafton for a quiet getaway in the mountains, the kaleidoscope landscapes, seasonal flavors, and warm festivities will reveal why so many choose to spend their weekends, road trips, and getaways in Vermont this time of year.
UVM welcomes Adrian Dubois as new men’s soccer coach
Adrian Dubois answers questions from the media following his introductory press conference on Monday, Dec. 22.
Momo Nkugwa’s two free throws and TJ Hurley’s defensive block in the final 18 seconds of regulation allowed Vermont basketball to squeeze past Binghamton for a 60-59 America East Conference victory in front of 1,874 at Patrick Gym on Thursday, Jan. 8.
Nkugwa, a freshman, sank both attempts at the line with 18 seconds to play for a 60-59 advantage, and Hurley followed with a block in the paint to deny Binghamton’s Jeremiah Quigley’s layup attempt.
Despite Vermont’s second straight win to open conference play, coach John Becker said his team was fortunate to take the victory against a Binghamton ranked 362 out of 364 Division I teams in kenpom rating.
“Great to win a game you shouldn’t win. I thought Binghamton deserved to win the game with how we played,” Becker said.
Gus Yalden, who was limited with a calf injury, led Vermont (10-7, 2-0) with 15 points and five rebounds in 19-plus minutes. Sean Blake added nine points, while Nkugwa and Ben Michaels chipped in eight points apiece.
For Binghamton (4-13, 0-2), Quigley collected 21 points and 10 boards and Wes Peterson dropped 11 points. The visiting Bearcats owned a 36-31 margin at the break and led for the majority of the game, but shot just 26.9% from the floor in the second half.
“Obviously, not our best game. But a win is a win,” Hurley said. “Every game matters whether you win by one point or you win by 20. We are happy with the win, but we know we have to get better from this as well.”
Who’s next for Vermont basketball?
The Catamounts play host to Maine at Patrick Gym on Thursday, Jan. 15. It will be a rematch of last year’s America East semifinals, which Maine won to end Vermont’s three-year championship reign.
UVM women’s basketball falls at Binghamton
Yanniah Boyd’s layup with 8 seconds to play broke a tie and gave host Binghamton a 69-67 win over Vermont women’s basketball in an America East contest on Thursday, Jan. 8.
Binghamton (10-5, 2-0) rallied for the win with a 24-13 edge in the fourth quarter. The hosts also benefited from 21-for-25 effort at the foul line to Vermont’s 4-for-7 performance.
Bella Pucci’s 20 points and Boyd’s 16 paced the Bearcats.
For Vermont (13-5, 2-1), Malia Lenz recorded 21 points and nine rebounds, Nikola Priede tallied 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Keira Hanson added 11 points and Emma Haan tossed in seven.
Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.
MONTPELIER — In his annual address to Vermont legislators Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Phil Scott urged members of the House and Senate to move forward with the next stages of the sweeping education reform project they started last year, at his administration’s urging.
But as the 2026 legislative session got underway this week, it has seemed far from certain that the process of creating new school districts and developing a new funding model — with the goals of improving educational quality and making the system less expensive overall — will advance at the pace, or in the form, that the governor and his Republican allies want.
That’s in part because the school redistricting task force set up in last year’s education reform law, Act 73, did not recommend new proposed district maps in November ahead of the session — essentially flouting one of the law’s key directives. Any new maps would likely include far fewer school districts, with larger student populations in each, than what exists today.
Speaking to a joint assembly of legislators and other officials for his State of the State address in the House chamber, Scott called education reform “our most critical challenge.”
He pointed to how Vermonters could see a nearly 12% average property tax hike this year, about half of which is due to anticipated increases in school district spending in the 2026-2027 school year, according to estimates late last year from the Vermont Tax Department.
“These are the real costs of maintaining a system designed for a Vermont that no longer exists,” the governor said. “If there’s one thing you take away from this speech today, it’s this — education transformation is not optional. It’s essential.”
In fact, there was not much else legislators could take away from the speech, as Scott’s 35-minute address focused almost entirely on that topic. Scott also took the notable step of using his speech to issue an ultimatum: If lawmakers did not make the changes to the state’s education system that he wants to see, he would not sign other key pieces of legislation they pass, such as the annual state budget or the bill that sets property tax rates, known as the yield bill.
“From my perspective, the recent failure to produce maps was a political strategy to preserve the old system,” the governor said. “Following through is about keeping our word to students, teachers and taxpayers who all deserve better.”
Scott’s ultimatum drew criticism from the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate in remarks to reporters shortly after. House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, said she did not think the veto threat was productive and, in fact, could make it harder to persuade her colleagues in the chamber to move forward with the plan the governor has laid out.
“It’s disappointing to hear,” she said. “I am 100% at the table to figure this out with the House, with the Senate and with the governor — and I think we all are coming to a place of having to reset and figure out what we do to keep education transformation going. And — what does that look like in a map?”
She added, “I think there’s concern and fear about what might happen” among House members, “but I truly believe that every member in my chamber wants to do something. It’s just how we get there — and that’s going to be the tough work ahead of us this session.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden Central, said he “would have probably preferred no threat, but a private communication of how serious (Scott) is.” Baruth called Scott’s speech “the most narrowly focused State of the State I’ve ever seen” in his 15 years in the Senate, though he understood why the governor would make that decision.
Asked about his own appetite for advancing the stipulations of Act 73, Baruth bristled slightly at a reporter’s suggestion he was “bullish” on the law.
“I would say I’m committed to it,” he said.
In a statement issued shortly after the address, the minority leaders of the House and Senate, for their part, praised the governor’s speech. Scott “correctly identified education reform as our most urgent challenge,” said Rep. Pattie McCoy, R-Poultney, and Sen. Scott Beck, R-Caledonia.
Scott also used his speech Wednesday to foreshadow — briefly — what he called the “hard choices” his administration, together with House and Senate budget writers, will have to make in the coming months when developing the state’s spending plan for the 2027 fiscal year. That time period runs from July 2026 to June 2027.
House and Senate leaders have already said they expect some existing programs will need to be cut as support from the federal government — especially for key human services programs such as nutritional benefits, Medicaid and assistance for home heating costs — wavers.
“This year’s spending package has required difficult decisions,” Scott said of his administration’s budget proposal, which he will present in another address later this month. From there, the House and Senate will develop a budget bill, which they’ll ultimately send back to Scott for his sign-off.
The governor said Wednesday that in national politics, “conflict is chosen over cooperation, division over decency and outrage over outcomes. People lose trust.”
He said he sees advancing the education reform plan he supports, and that legislators started last year in Act 73, as a way to set an example of how people’s “government still works for them.” Democratic leaders’ willingness to evolve the public education system in 2025 along the lines Scott proposed was, in part, a political response to voters’ outrage in 2024 over property tax increases. That spike led Democrats to lose a historic number of state House and Senate seats.
“We don’t need to be asked to do the right thing,” Scott said. “We just need to do it.”
This story was republished with permission from VtDigger, which offers its reporting at no cost to local news organizations through its Community News Sharing Project. To learn more, visit vtdigger.org/community-news-sharing-project.
NORTH HERO, Vt. (WCAX) – A judge has signed off on a request to search a cellphone in connection with a crash that killed a 20-year-old motorcyclist back in June.
The judge granted the request from the Grand Isle County state’s attorney for Ellen Willson’s phone.
Prosecutors believe Willson was using the phone when she drove her truck across the center line on Route 2 in North Hero, hitting Hunter Rounds and his father. Rounds was killed and his dad was seriously injured in the Father’s Day crash.
Court paperwork indicates that after police seized Willson’s phone at the scene, she requested to use it to get a phone number, but then admitted to deleting a message. She claimed it was unrelated to the crash.
Willson is not in jail but is under court conditions that she not drive.
Copyright 2026 WCAX. All rights reserved.
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